The Government of India continues its efforts to combat anemia through the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy, a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing anemia prevalence among children, women, and pregnant and lactating mothers using a life-cycle approach. The strategy includes six key interventions, focusing on Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, deworming, behavioral change campaigns, anemia screening and treatment, fortified food distribution, and addressing non-nutritional causes of anemia such as malaria, fluorosis, and hemoglobinopathies.

Under the IFA supplementation program, children aged 6–59 months receive IFA syrup biweekly, while older children aged 5–9 years are provided IFA Pink tablets and adolescents aged 10–19 years receive IFA Blue tablets. Women of reproductive age are given IFA Red tablets weekly, while pregnant and lactating mothers receive daily IFA supplementation for 180 days. Additionally, albendazole tablets are provided to all children during National Deworming Day, and pregnant women receive albendazole in their second trimester to address parasitic infections contributing to anemia.

To ensure large-scale implementation, States receive financial assistance through the National Health Mission (NHM) based on their annual program proposals. For FY 2024-25, Rs 805.91 crore has been allocated to States and Union Territories under the AMB program.

As part of the government’s push for fortified nutrition, fortified rice enriched with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 is distributed through key public welfare schemes, including the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS). By March 2024, all custom-milled rice has been replaced with fortified rice across government schemes.

Ensuring quality control, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has designated 57 laboratories for testing fortified rice, 35 for Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK), and 15 for FRK premix. These testing facilities are crucial for maintaining the nutritional efficacy and safety of fortified food products.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, confirmed these developments in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, reaffirming the government’s commitment to tackling anemia through a multi-pronged, scientifically backed approach.